Favorite Programs

Water Management

The earth’s climate is changing rapidly. The main water problems we have to deal with in society are pollution, flooding and shortages. This has major impact for both humans and animals. As a water manager you make sure all life on earth can deal with the effects of climate change on nature, the weather and agriculture.

Heavy rainfall and the melting of land ice, such as glaciers, means we now have to deal with flooding much more regularly. Draughts result in a lack of water. This has implications on food provisions, for the living environment for people, animals and organisms. The water may also be polluted, resulting in a shortage of drinking water. As a water manager you tackle these challenges. For example, you work on designing a natural dike, which is strong enough to prevent a breakthrough, and therefore flooding, as a result of your calculations. Or you make sure that people in poor areas can continue to grow their own food through special irrigation channels. As an water manager you develop coastal plans, allowing us to continue to live safely and enjoy recreational activities at the seafront.

Approximately 80% of the world’s population lives in a delta area by 2050. A delta area is an area where rivers and the sea come together and where the land is located in between the water. Coastal defences, urban development and water quality are of particular importance in these areas. As a water manager you develop technical solutions for an improved living environment, for both people and animals, both on land and in the water. You will be involved with water, urban development, ecology and technology. You learn all about water management and the impact the climate has on living environments

The HZ enjoys intensive working relationships with professionals in the water sector You will be working on practical assignments provided by companies or research institutes from the very first day of your study. This is incredibly important, as this will thoroughly prepare you for your career. You will be educated with the latest knowledge from the field and you learn how to effectively combine theory and practice.

Online application

Apply now via Studielink

Blog: what students think of Water Management

Open Day

24 November 2018

Course structure

You will be working on biology and ecology, technology, urban development (design), water quality, administrative issues, flood risks and global cultural and climatic differences during the Water Management programme Do you feel less confident in a certain field as a result of your previous education? You will start off at a general level in year one, which is the basis to build up your knowledge.

You instantly get to work for real clients. You often venture out into the field to research a certain area and you work in the HZ Ecology Lab. In addition to the lectures on Water Management, you also learn all about project management, research methods, English and internationalisation.

You become acquainted with the entire field in the first year. You know what suits you best after the first year and subsequently choose your specialisation: Aquatic Ecotechnology or Delta Management. Aquatic Ecotechnology involves flooding, water quality and plants and animals in the water. You take an in-depth look at tidal areas, the rise in sea levels and subsidence, treatment plants, fish passages, the power of water and natural banks. Delta Management focuses on urban development, laws and regulations, managing water safety, marketing and intercultural communication.

Programme Aquatic Ecotechnology

Below you find information on the Aquatic Ecotechnology programme. The first year of Water Management is for both Aquatic Ecotechnology and Delta Management the same. You choose a definitive specialisation after one year: Aquatic Ecotechnology or Delta Management.

In year one you learn everything about the different layers of a delta area: the basic layer, the network layer and the occupation layer. You tackle each layer for an eight week period. You work on biology, ecology, geography, chemistry, economy and management and policy.

Basic layer (earth and water)Discover all about what’s living in and around the water and how changes in soil can impact the environment.

Network layer (roads, dikes, harbours and towns)Ecology is central during this layer. You learn how our eco system influences our society and how you can reap the benefits from this. This includes, for example, the energy generated by the sun, the sand which defends the coastline, but also depoldering. You take a look across the borders: how should you be dealing with different climates and cultures? Think about roofs which can be used to grow rice on and which can also purify water at the same time in Asia. You also learn to look ahead. You map out a specific area together with your project group and predict its development during the next fifteen years.

Occupation layer (human activity in the area)You look at the design during this layer: the (re)design of an area for the living environment of both people and animals. You focus at water safety, as well as society and marketing. Nature and water are central focus points here. And finally, you combine everything you have learnt in a project and subsequently map out all the layers of a European delta.

You choose a definitive specialisation after one year: Aquatic Ecotechnology or Delta Management.

You work with environmental chemistry: a branch of chemistry focussed on the chemical aspects of the world around us. Important: this mainly concerns substances which have entered the environment as a result of human activities. For example, you analyse a lake within which blue-green algae is growing. Fish die as a result of blue-green algae. The water system is disrupted and can subsequently go smelly and sometimes even toxic. This is becoming increasingly more common as a result of climate and temperature changes. You are able to further develop your knowledge if you have already studied chemistry in your previous education.

You spend the second quarter looking at how people are adjusting to changes in the environment, for example as a result of increased rainfall and the water levels rising in rivers. Think of Louisiana for example: an area which is hit by a hurricane on average once every three years. The residents must protect their homes, know their evacuation routes and be able to build up their living environments again, as soon as they’re allowed back to their own living environment.

Building with nature will be the central focus point during the third quarter. Traditional solutions, such as concrete flood defences, are often less environmentally friendly. Ecological solutions are therefore now becoming increasingly more important. We are keeping our feet dry, the solution is often more beautiful and nature is central. You learn to calculate whether this solution will still be resistant enough in 100 years’ time. This is done with the use of computer models.

You become acquainted with water technology in the last quarter: purifying water for different applications for people and animals, industry and nature. Where can you obtain sufficient fresh water and how can you safeguard the water quality? You learn how to remove and purify wastewater.

You follow a six month minor during the third year of the programme. A minor will deepen or broaden your knowledge and skills. You can complete the minor with the research groups from water courses at the HZ, at another HZ programme or you can opt for another university either in the Netherlands or abroad. You will be doing a work experience placement during the second half of the year at an organisation in your specific field. You can choose where you want to do this work experience. You could, for example, opt for a placement in the Caribbean in order to restore a coral area, or work on fish farming based on energy and nutrients supplied by nature in the Netherlands.

You follow the River Basin Management course, whereby you research a river in an international delta area during a field study week. You map out the entire area, including the eco system, you identify the problems and come up with recommendations for solving the problems. You can choose to take a more in-depth look at either water technology or natural water systems. You further supplement your programme with courses like aquaculture, which sees you tackling, for example, the cultivation of sea fish, shellfish, samphire and other sea vegetables or the energy from water course.you spend the last part of your study graduating at an organisation of your choice either in the Netherlands or abroad. You can also graduate with one of the research groups. You will need to hand in a research project at the end of the fourth year, which demonstrates that you have the Bachelor level. This research can include, for example, which requirements water needs to satisfy in the town in order to avoid it being bad for the public’s health, or the development of a method which a nature organisation can use to assess water, allowing it to implement a suitable fish policy.

Programme Delta Management

Below you find information on the Aquatic Ecotechnology programme. The first year of Water Management is for both Aquatic Ecotechnology and Delta Management the same. You choose a definitive specialisation after one year: Aquatic Ecotechnology or Delta Management.

In year one you learn everything about the different layers of a
delta area: the basic layer, the network layer and the occupation layer.
You tackle each layer for an eight week period. You work on biology,
ecology, geography, chemistry, economy and management and policy.

Basic layer (earth and water)
Discover all about what’s living in and around the water and how changes in soil can impact the environment.

Network layer (roads, dikes, harbours and towns)
Ecology
is central during this layer. You learn how our eco system influences
our society and how you can reap the benefits from this. This includes,
for example, the energy generated by the sun, the sand which defends the
coastline, but also depoldering. You take a look across the borders:
how should you be dealing with different climates and cultures? Think
about roofs which can be used to grow rice on and which can also purify
water at the same time in Asia. You also learn to look ahead. You map
out a specific area together with your project group and predict its
development during the next fifteen years.

Occupation layer (human activity in the area)
You
look at the design during this layer: the (re)design of an area for the
living environment of both people and animals. You focus at water
safety, as well as society and marketing. Nature and water are central
focus points here. And finally, you combine everything you have learnt
in a project and subsequently map out all the layers of a European
delta.

You choose a definitive specialisation after one year: Aquatic Ecotechnology or Delta Management.

You get to work on a design for a European area which is prone to flooding. You will be commissioned by a European municipality to prepare a vision for their area, in order to make it more resistant to the effects of climate change. You thereby look at the social, economic, political, legal and cultural aspects. You learn how to digitally map out an area and how to graphically design your project.

America is the central focus point during the second half of the year, especially the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana. This delta area is one of America’s biggest nature areas and is under threat by natural disasters such as hurricanes. Climate change has resulted in a rise in the river water, which inevitably means more and more parts of the area are disappearing into the river. You draft a strategic plan for part of this area, where you opt for either a town or a nature area. Your design serves to improve the safety of the area, whilst keeping a firm focus on nature. You take the local and national political, cultural and social situation into account.

You follow a six month minor during the third year. A minor will deepen or broaden your knowledge and skills. You can complete the minor with the research groups from water courses at the HZ, at another HZ course or you can opt for another university either in the Netherlands or abroad. You do a work experience placement either at home or abroad during the second half of the year at an organisation in your specific field. You can choose where you want to do this work experience. You could, for example, opt for a work experience placement in Vietnam, where you could look at how different districts within a large town could deal with climate changes, for example the removal of water after heavy rainfall. Or you could decide to work for a harbour company, in order to work on making the harbour area future resistant.

Asia is central during your final year: Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. Climate change has resulted in the Mekong Delta now being one of the most threatened delta areas in the world. If the sea level rises by 1 meter, 38% of this area will be under water. This has consequences for food production. You and your project team will be working on a spatial design for part of this delta. The design contributes to ensuring there is sufficient fresh water, food, coastal protection and sufficient space for tourism and recreation. This allows you to give the local economy an effective boost.

As a manager of a Belgian coastal area, you also start tackling the prevention of flooding in year 4, using natural solutions like green dikes, flood resistant constructions and generating energy from water. You do this together with students from other water specialisations. And finally, you conclude your studies in this academic year with a research project. You could, for example, look at how large European harbours can respond to the consequences of climate change, or you could issue advice regarding the way in which an executor can prevent the formation of blue-green algae.

Three-year programme Water Management

With your pre-university diploma you can qualify for the English-language three-year track of the Water Management programme if you meet the admission requirements. If you opt for this track, you will be in a class with international students.

During the first semester you follow lectures together with the students who are doing the four-year programme. You get to know your fellow students and the water management programme, and you decide which specialisation you want to follow. Subsequently, you spend two six-month periods studying the specialisation of your choice. Halfway through the second year, you choose a minor, or you do an internship at home or abroad. In your final study year, you further deepen your knowledge and skills in your chosen field through projects and lectures, and you carry out a graduation research in the professional field.

Have you become passionate about your study and would you like to further develop yourself in your professional field? Would a Master programme be something for you? You could choose for the 18-months Master programme in River Delta Development, which is a collaboration of HZ University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Van Hall Larenstein. This way, you can obtain both your Bachelor and your master’s degree in four-and-a-half years. Employers will be lining up for you upon graduation, because you are both practically and analytically trained.

The three-year study programme Water Management is taught in English. To be able to start in the second semester of the three-year track, you must have an average of 7.5 or higher on your grade list. If this is the case, you may decide, together with your Study Career Coach, whether the three-year track matches your wishes and requirements.

After applying for the Water Management programme, you will be invited for a study choice interview. In that interview you can indicate that you want to be considered for the three-year track.

Applied research

The Delta Academy includes an applied research centre. Research is carried out in four fields: Resilient Deltas, Building with Nature, Aquaculture and Water Technology. Students, researchers and lecturers work together to conduct research on these themes in cooperation with companies, governmental organisations and other research institutes.

Applied research is closely combined with education at the Delta Academy. Our lecturers participate in research and researchers give lectures. Often the assignments you face during your classes are part of challenging projects the research groups deal with. Furthermore, you can choose to carry out your internship, minor or graduation project with a research group.

Requirements

Before you apply to the Water Management programme, you have to meet a few admission requirements.

If you don’t have the appropriate secondary school diploma, and if you are at least 21 years old, you may be exempted from this requirement. The HZ provides the possibility of taking an alternative entrance exam.

Practical information

Next to the tuition fees and cost of living there are extra costs for your study programme (study materials and books). These costs are approximately €300,- for the full study programme. You will have excursions on regular basis.

As a water manager, your skills are valuable equally in the public and private sector. You can work at all levels of the government or water authorities or Research institutes, consultancies, engineering companies and industries.

With Aquatic Eco Technology, you can work as a water consultant, assistant researcher, policy officer, expert or project coordinator. If you further specialized in Water Technology, you can work as a water engineer, analyst or waste water treatment engineer. With a specialisation in Delta Management, you can work as an assistant researcher, consultant, assistant area manager, designer or project coordinator.

With a bachelor degree from the HZ you can continue studying towards your Master’s degree. If you decide to continue your education abroad, you can do so immediately after graduating from the HZ. If you choose to further your studies at a research university in the Netherlands, a pre-master might be required.